Exploring the Perspectives of Canadian Clinicians Regarding Digitally Delivered Psychotherapies Utilized for Trauma-Affected Populations

Sidney Yap, Rashell R. Allen, Katherine S. Bright, Matthew R. G. Brown, Lisa Burback, Jake Hayward, Olga Winkler, Kristopher Wells, Chelsea Jones, Phillip R. Sevigny, Megan McElheran, Keith Zukiwski, Andrew J. Greenshaw and Suzette Brémault-Phillips ()
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Sidney Yap: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H5, Canada
Rashell R. Allen: School of Clinical Child Psychology, Faculty of Education, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G5, Canada
Katherine S. Bright: Heroes in Mind, Advocacy, and Research Consortium, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G4, Canada
Matthew R. G. Brown: Heroes in Mind, Advocacy, and Research Consortium, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G4, Canada
Lisa Burback: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H5, Canada
Jake Hayward: Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2T4, Canada
Olga Winkler: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H5, Canada
Kristopher Wells: Department of Child and Youth Care, Faculty of Health and Community Studies, MacEwan University, Edmonton, AB T5J 4S2, Canada
Chelsea Jones: Heroes in Mind, Advocacy, and Research Consortium, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G4, Canada
Phillip R. Sevigny: Heroes in Mind, Advocacy, and Research Consortium, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G4, Canada
Megan McElheran: Wayfound Mental Health Group, Calgary, AB T2R 1J5, Canada
Keith Zukiwski: Haikei Health, Edmonton, AB T5W 3H1, Canada
Andrew J. Greenshaw: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H5, Canada
Suzette Brémault-Phillips: Heroes in Mind, Advocacy, and Research Consortium, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G4, Canada

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 1, 1-15

Abstract: Many clinical sites shifted towards digital delivery of mental health services during the COVID-19 pandemic. There is still much to learn regarding tailoring digitally delivered interventions for trauma-affected populations. The current study examined the perceptions of Canadian mental health clinicians who provided digitally delivered psychotherapies utilized for trauma-affected populations. Specifically, we explored the shift to digital health use, what changed with this rapid shift, what needs, problems, and solutions arose, and important future considerations associated with delivering trauma-focused and adjunct treatments digitally. Survey data were collected from 12 Canadian mental health clinician participants. Surveys were adapted from the Alberta Quality Matrix of Health and Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology model. As a follow-up, the participants were invited to participate in either a semi-structured qualitative interview or focus group to further explore their perspectives on digitally delivered trauma-focused and adjunct therapies. Twenty-four clinician participants partook in an interview or focus group. The participants in this study supported the use of digitally delivered psychotherapies utilized for trauma-affected populations, sharing that these interventions appeared to offer similar quality of care to in-person delivery. Further research is required to address clinicians’ concerns with digital delivery (e.g., patient safety) and identify other avenues in which digitally delivered psychotherapies utilized for trauma-affected populations can be engaged with and improved upon.

Keywords: web-based intervention; psychotherapy; access to therapies; trauma; trauma-focused psychotherapy; health services; military; veteran; public safety personnel; implementation science (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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